Jim O'Brien searching for next James Forrest as Notts County man glad he's not 'p****d' career of sacrifice away

He hadn’t picked up a guitar in months before Jake Bugg turned up at Notts County. But whether it’s music or football, you never lose it. And Jim O’Brien is living proof of that.

Next year he’ll appear in a video playing alongside Bugg, one of his favourite singer-songwriters. O’Brien’s talent as an artist left the boyhood Magpies fan suitably impressed. But the sport he has dedicated the last 25 years of his life to will always be his first love.

And at 36 he’s showing no signs of slowing down. O’Brien is arguably enjoying the best spell of his career at Meadow Lane, fighting to get them promoted from League Two. Under gaffer Luke Williams, the Scot has found a new thirst for the game. And when he’s not playing for County, he’s working in Sheffield United’s academy, coaching their midfielders of the future. That, allied to spending time with eight-year-old son James, means he’s immersed in it. It’s a wonder he can fit a millionaire musician into his busy schedule.

But O’Brien – who entertained dressing-rooms from Dundee to Dingwall with his guitar – wouldn’t have it any other way. “I hadn’t picked up music for ages until recently,” he told Mail Sport. “But I’m really into Jake’s stuff and he’s a big Notts County fan. I’ve been to a few of his concerts and speak to him now and again. He was filming at the club and asked me to join in. We played one of his older songs together.

“On social media leading up to his album release next year, he’s going to drop wee videos, including the one I’m on. I buzzed off it – and I think he was quite surprised at my standard which was good!” On the pitch, O’Brien wouldn’t be playing every week for County if he didn’t have quality – and experience.

Williams spotted that when he took over